A Dedicated electric Freight corridor has been launched in Gujarat by BillionE and Hindalco.

Billion Electric Mobility (BillionE), which is an E-Mobility-as-a-Service (eMaaS) platform, has partnered with Hindalco Industries Birla Copper Division to launch Gujarat’s first heavy duty electric freight corridor. This corridor is a 160 km long route situated between Dahej and Asoj and is aimed to promote long highway runs for low-emission vehicles especially for industrial logistics. 

This project will deploy 15 Ashok Leyland electric trucks with a maximum capacity of 55-ton in different phases. Out of them, 10 trucks will start operations immediately, with five more added within the span of three months. This initiative will further reduce the emissions and dependence on diesel-powered vehicles used in freight transportation. 

Hindalco Logistics is even developing their electric vehicle fleet to meet the sustainability goals by reducing the carbon footprint with its ICE-powered commercial vehicles. On the other hand, BillionE will be effectively utilising ChargeZone’s charging network for enhancing the operational efficiency, with its stations located at Karjan, Bharuch, and other sites along the route. 

The company is also planning to expand operations in order to include the secondary transport routes situated in Vapi, Daman, and Silvassa after completion of the initial phase. 

The CEO of BillionE Mobility, Sanjeev Kulkarni, expressed his views on the occasion and said, “Introducing the heavy-duty commercial freight corridor is a big milestone as it represents how India effectively moves its goods at a big scale. The transport of heavy logistics is largely dependent on ICE-powered commercial vehicles, which contributes to emissions and energy vulnerability. 

Thus by installing electric trucks in the commercial fleet, we are ensuring that industrial transport can also be sustainable without having any carbon footprint. 

Therefore, our strategic alliance with Hindalco is very important towards creating a network of sustainable freight corridors, thus helping businesses to reduce carbon emissions at a massive scale by improving the overall efficiency by reducing the long-term costs.”

The Functional Head, F&C Copper Business at Hindalco Industries ltd, Bishnu Agarwal expressed further and said, “Logistics is our core component of our business and that’s why it is our commitment to transform towards cleaner and eco-friendly solutions. 

Transitioning to EVs will improve the efficiency with cleaner, quieter, and low-maintenance electric commercial vehicles. Thus driving sustainable solutions also leads to a business advantage, and not just a normal change.”